Rep. Jake Banta

Maddy summaryHB 857 amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to update reimbursement rates for emergency ambulance services under Medicaid programs. It requires the state to pay ambulance providers the higher of either Medicare's 2023 rates or current Medicaid ambulance fees (as updated in 2023) for services provided to Medicaid enrollees starting January 1, 2024. For services where patients declined transport, new rates based on 2025 Medicare data or updated Medicaid fees will apply beginning July 1, 2025. This directly affects licensed emergency medical services agencies that provide ambulance transport to Medicaid beneficiaries.

Maddy summaryHB 792 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to require the State Board of Education to collect data on how schools teach Holocaust, genocide, and human rights violations. Starting after the 2025-2026 school year, the State Board must annually request schools to report on whether they offer such instruction, the curriculum used, teacher training participation, and details like grade levels and instructional hours. Every five years, the State Board must issue a report to the Governor, Education Secretary, and legislative education committee chairs, including statistics on school participation and recommendations for improvement. The bill does not mandate specific curriculum content but establishes a reporting system to track existing educational practices.

Maddy summaryHB 756 requires Pennsylvania prosecutors to notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) if they learn during a criminal case that a defendant is not a U.S. citizen or is present in the U.S. illegally under federal immigration law (8 U.S.C. Ch. 12). This affects criminal defendants with non-citizen status or potential immigration violations. The bill mandates that Commonwealth attorneys provide this notification "at any point during the course of a criminal proceeding" when they reasonably obtain such information.

Maddy summaryHB 745 amends Pennsylvania's hunting and trapping license rules to allow nonresidents who own property in the state to qualify for resident license rates. The bill defines a nonresident as a "resident" for licensing purposes if they paid Pennsylvania property taxes during the current or prior licensing season and can prove this payment to the state commission. This change directly affects nonresident property owners who currently pay higher nonresident fees to hunt or trap in Pennsylvania. The law would take effect 60 days after enactment, updating eligibility under Title 34 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes.

Maddy summaryHB 741 allows senior hunters (65+ years old with valid licenses) to harvest antlered deer meeting specific size criteria. The bill permits taking deer with at least two points on one antler or a spike antler three inches or longer. This change modifies existing hunting rules under Pennsylvania's Game Code by establishing new, more lenient harvest standards for senior license holders. The bill directly affects eligible senior hunters participating in deer hunting seasons.

Maddy summaryHB 701 amends a Pennsylvania law that gives the Governor authority over U.S. flag displays on public grounds and buildings. The bill requires that any U.S. flag displayed under this law must be manufactured in the United States. This affects public institutions, schools, and certain other organizations that display the flag on their property. The change adds a sourcing requirement to existing flag display regulations without altering the Governor's regulatory role.

Maddy summaryHB 689 clarifies leave policies for Pennsylvania state employees when their department, board, or commission closes due to a Governor-declared disaster emergency or other unforeseen events beyond control. If closure prevents an employee from working for at least five consecutive business days, they may be placed on unpaid leave while retaining health insurance and other fringe benefits (such as retirement contributions). Employees can choose to use accrued paid leave first before transitioning to unpaid leave. This applies to most employees but excludes those who can telework or are already furloughed, and does not affect eligibility for unemployment benefits.

Maddy summaryHR 87 is a resolution directing Pennsylvania's Joint State Government Commission to study security risks to critical infrastructure from foreign purchases of infrastructure assets and adjacent land. The study will examine current state protections, compare approaches used by other states, and assess whether adopting a process similar to the federal CFIUS review (which evaluates foreign investments for national security risks) would be feasible. It requires the Commission to report findings and recommendations to the General Assembly within 24 months. This resolution does not create new laws but aims to inform future policy decisions about protecting critical infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHB 695 requires health insurance plans to cover vaccinations administered on schedules chosen by parents or guardians that differ from CDC recommendations, provided at least one vaccine is given annually. It prohibits insurers from offering financial incentives to providers based on per-member vaccination rates. Health care practitioners must continue providing pediatric care for patients on non-CDC schedules and cannot bill for discussions about alternative schedules. Violations by practitioners could result in disciplinary action from their licensing board.

Maddy summaryHB 686 amends Pennsylvania's 1970 law to give parents or legal guardians full access to their minor child's medical, dental, and mental health records until the child turns 18, subject to federal law. This new provision (Section 1.3) overrides a prior rule allowing minors to control their mental health records, directly affecting minors under 18 and their parents/guardians. The bill changes how healthcare providers handle record access requests, requiring disclosure to parents unless federal law prohibits it. The changes take effect 60 days after the bill is signed.